Is my diet balanced enough?

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-10-2003
Is my diet balanced enough?
2
Sat, 05-21-2005 - 10:27pm

Hey guys! I was just wondering if my diet is well banlace...Below is my average day...Let me know what you think.

Pre-workout- Milk and protein shake
Post-workout- fat-free yogurt and a banana
Snack- Apple or pear
Lunch- Turkey Sandwich on whole grain bread with tomatoes, onions, lettuce, mustard and fat-free sour cream
Snack- 15 TLC crackers with green tea
Dinner- Chicken with veggies and either brown rice or wheat pasta
Snack- An Orange

I work out 5-6 days a week. I try to do at leats 30min of cardio a day. I also lift weights 3 times a week.

I'm trying to limit my calorie intake to 1,200/day - My goal is to lose weight.

Thank you,
Lu

Avatar for soleilune
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sun, 05-22-2005 - 5:50pm

It doesn't look too bad, balance-wise, but maybe a bit too restrictive. To lose fat safely & effectively you need to determine how many calories you expend in a day, then create a deficit of approx. 500 cal. Any more than 700 calories/day for an extended period of time will result in your metabolism slowing down, your body hanging onto fat & using muscle & organ tissue for fuel. When you return to eating normally you'll end up regaining the lost weight and some cases putting even more on. If you don't return to normal eating patterns then you'll likely suffer the effects of malnutrition.

Go to a site like Fitday or Calorie King to determine your caloric needs then create a reasonable deficit through the combo of healthy eating and exercise.

Soleilune
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Mon, 05-23-2005 - 7:01am
Hi Lu!